Select Board - Regular Meeting

to start the public session at 6:04. You will rise for the pledge of allegiance. Y to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. Get the uh house work out of the way. make a motion to seal the non-public minutes indefinitely um for the reason that it may adversely affect the reputation of any person other than a member of this board.

Okay. Motion by Sean, second by Mr. Sandigrin. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed. You need a roll call. Oh, we need roll call on that. Oh, this you do. Yeah, you do. Oh, you do need a roll call on that. I'm sorry, Scott. San John I. Scott Se I. Don Milbrand I. Sean I. All right. Passes 5-0. Sorry Scott. Uh minutes. Okay. I make a motion to approve the uh on public and public meeting minutes of March 5th, 2026. Second.

Okay. Motion by John, second by Mr. Sanji Green. Any discussion? All in favor? I I abstain. Pass. Uh I'll make a mot. Yeah. Consent agenda.

Make a motion to approve the consent agenda consisting of the following items. Accounts payable payment manifest dated 31226. Accounts payable special payment manifest dated 31226. Accounts payable AC manifest harbors wax dated 31926. Accounts payable payment manifest dated 31926. Accounts payable special payment manifest dated 31926. Payroll manifest payroll payment manifest dated 31226. Distribution of funds from the town building maintenance funds in the amount of $24,93.31. Review and approval update for the veterans credit on the following. Map lot 223004. Map lot 11562. Map lot 114003. Map lot 21633 02. Map lot 112 012. Map lot 209 055. Map lot 223001, map lot 109042, map lot 219016, removal of veterans credit as it no longer qualifies for map lot 103021. Removal of elderly exemption as it no longer qualifies for map lot 103021. Updated 2025 annual facility report for active solid waste facilities. Wow. Page three. Um,

appointment of Chip Carlton as a conservation commission member through March 10, 2026 and removal of the following credits or exemptions as they no longer apply. Map lot 214006 standard and disabled veterans credit and map lot 10318 veterans credit and elderly exemption. Two pages. Second. Okay. Motion by Sean, second by John. Um, can you just amend the motion for Chip? Um, I just real I will just change the appointment to 2027. Um, so Chip. Oh yeah, I'll amend that to read March 10, 2027.

Thank you. Your second still good, John? Yes. Okay. Any further discussion? I'll just let you know he he he's moving from an alternate to a regular member since Carol Brown left. Okay. Um and that that's why we didn't bring him in for our meet and greet. And then the only other thing you already approved your facility report previously, but because there was a change to our license, we had to do it over and change and update it. Okay. All right. All in favor? I I opposed extensions. All right. pass 500 election of officers. So according to the JP rule, the first the outgoing

I'll make a motion. The outgoing Hold on. Hold it. The outgoing should should be the chairman. So I'm going to make a motion that Sean Loo be chairman. That's what I was going to say. Yeah, I'll second. You can second it. Okay. You know, I was outgoing, but I guess I I was No, I'm the outgoing. That's the thing. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. I was going to say all right hold on you missed the point rule differently if you remember the outgoing and the vice chair was supposed to be your yes since I am the outgoing and that's JP's rule I nominate Sean yeah I'm happy to do it you you'll accept it all in favor I absensions 401

very enthusiastic I want to have to hand to you but I don't so it's all yours from here on he's going to get the crown Um, thank you. Appreciate that. Um, I'll make a motion to nominate Scott as vice Scott as vice chair. I'll second. Any discussion? It's your meeting now. Oh, that's right. I got your chance. I'm done. All those in favor? Thank you. Very good. Um, okay. So, we need um appointments. So, yep, Mr. Chair. Yep.

Um, I don't know if you want to just skip ahead. Um, we can do that. I broke it up in your in your folders. I did break that up and just figured you do the elections first and then seeing how we made it here on time. I didn't say that. All right. So, we're preliminary discussion. Water fees. Jeff, please. Yep. Thank you for coming. Oh, that was mean. I don't believe with that. That was mean. All right, let's uh let's keep it in. Let's keep it down here.

Jeff, what do you have for us? Yep. Uh I'm here for a preliminary discussion on uh increasing the uh water fees. We're not increasing water rates or sewer rates, but we do have some fee adjustments based on material cost and labor cost. So, okay. and they're just minor changes. Um, in number five under your folders, there's an in there's an Excel sheet that has those um the rigs that Jeff will be talking about. Um, I'm just trying to get up to share. So, here Oh, that was probably I changed it.

Pass it out. Sorry. But in in the spreadsheet, if you're looking at that, there's uh notes in some of the cells that uh have had changes to them. Um primarily the 3/4 in meter setup um in the different different valves and whatnot. Prices have fluctuated on that. So I've had to adjust those. So we are we talking water and sewer? Uh yeah, water. Water to start with. Okay. Okay. So there are tabs. It's 2026 water fees on page one and two and 2026 sewer fees. Let me look at the Excel sheet. No,

I think if uh like the 3/4 inch water service connection uh the uh tap main and meter setup the 3/4 in that $18.90 I think that I don't have the the note for that but I believe that's up about uh sorry $80 was it $80 and $90. I'm sorry, which one? Um, yeah, if you could click on the one just above your right here. Oh, where your note is? Total increase $80 from 2024. So, that's the biggest increase. And that's, like I said, that's uh materials. Uh, we're just trying to cover our cost.

Um, so that does impact the per unit charge. It's basically an impact fee. So, every additional unit that is added to our system, we charge that 99.95. uh and that's the equivalent of a meter setup charge. So um the other uh meter sizes uh tried to maintain those uh connection fees. Uh we was able to reduce some of the material costs on those. Um but it's offset by uh our labor charges. So we were able to just balance those out. there is a um increase to the if there's an existing curb saw there is a charge for that just basically covers a labor cost uh to make that connection and uh we usually replace the standing rod. So again just covering our cost and the rest remains the same for water. Um, and then sewer did

uh, please. That was $15. Yep. That's the only increase I had on that was the unit charge $15 on Sorry, so not a huge huge change, but uh, that's what I would like to bring to the board. uh for public hearing. Um if you guys are fine with that, I think that's scheduled for the uh April 6. So Jeff has to come back. We decided to skip this next meeting. Um and because Jeff has to we have to hold a public hearing on our CDBG funding. Yep.

For the Central Street project because we're extending it just till we finish this project. So, we're holding the public hearing that night and then we figure we'd hold the public hearing for this the same night but ask you to back date it to an April 1st effective date. Okay. If you're good with that. Yep. Looks good. This makes sense. And the other thing I did, I just updated that sheet that shows um the 2026 water and sewer rates um how they compare to the state average. that is updated to the most recent information that I had. So yeah, that

so state average. So we're we're still below the state average, but I think we're doing fine on uh expenditures. We're making more in revenues than we're expending. So we're able to still put money in the surplus. Um we did raise rates a few years back in anticipation of the sewer project. I'll fund that. So those we're just able to maintain those cuz the the pin hasn't died on that. So thank you for the comparisons by Yep. Y I'm all good. So how's uh how's it going down there?

Pretty good. Yeah, I think the concrete's just about done being poured. They had to it's a lot of form work that they did a lot of because it's a wet well uh with a divider and piping and a lot of rebar but they're at the point now that all the poured concrete is done they'll start uh building block off the top of that. So, you guys probably didn't get to see much of the power at the pump station. I was thinking he sat down there and I'm thinking, what are we doing for a project down Well, that's what I was asking about, but I I I got what he was saying shortly. Oh, sorry. Yeah. What's What's all the rock they brought in on the on the stage?

That's a separate I think that was Ken Brley. He's looking to do a retaining wall for the next door neighbor and he was just that on site. Yeah. All right. I was wondering what we needed that for. Yeah, that makes more sense. When are they going to start the directional drilling? Um, I think they're hoping to right off. Uh, just talked to Victor that I think the road bean is going to be lifted on the end of the month on those streets. Not will be lifted probably on every road, but at least those streets that'll be lifted by the end of March. She thinks they already have uh construction signage out. I noticed it today. Oh, did they put some out? They're they're laying on the side of the road, but it's Oh, yeah. They're starting. Yeah.

Great. Excited. Yeah. Thanks, Jeff. Thank you. Sorry, but thank you. Happy evening. Thanks, Jeff. Have a good night. All right. Select board updates, committee, board assignments. There's a document if you want to look at it um under number six 4B. It's actually back under 4 A. So it breaks. So this is all I wanted to touch base with you on all of this. It's kind of broken up on the agenda.

Um so I don't know if you just if you want to follow the agenda or just follow this document. It's up to you. Oh, we can follow the document. We have chair and vice chair. Um, Thursdays, they work well for me. I have no complaints. I mean, it's okay with me. Yeah. Okay. Thursdays, let's keep it same. Okay. So, we're good with Thursdays. Um, the only in the past people have wanted to attend concert, you don't want to change it for those couple of months. Okay. Um, I keep this on there in case, but um any um want to have a summer town meeting? I hope you say no. Yeah. No, I think that's gone.

It's been wasted effort the last few times we did it. Yeah. Yeah.

Um the quarterly pulse checks, I've set them up for the rest of the year. Um I wanted to get a board member assigned to each of them. So the first round is April and so it's April 8th, April 22nd, and April 29th. and um is the first round it. So what these are Scott um also in your folders I should point that out in your folders under number six C there's um quarterly session session documentation. So there's one document that shows everything that's been brought up in these sessions and there's a second document that shows things that we've either tabled because we're not going to try to do them at this point or have been completed. Um so we meet with the at every department um and at first it was me doing it and then we brought in select board members um and we sit and they come up with ideas the staff um they come up with concerns

um other things it may just be something minor. It's really funny to hear when you go from one to another, same thing comes up in multiple. Um but so um so that list that big list that came from these meetings. So yeah, they came from in August and in November. I wasn't tracking very good before that, but I decided to do this because it's a nice document to be able to show even the employees that were doing this.

Um and and we've been able to accomplish some of the things on the list. Um, one of the things that came out in the last session was to start splitting. We were doing for sake of convenience police and fire together, but one comment that came up was you never see some of the other people in these departments. So, we've rotated. So, every one of these have been rotated now. Um, so that it won't always be police and fire. Police will be with highway one time or police will be with library one time or something like that. So, so the the next round is um April 8th, 22nd and 29th. The April 8th and the 29th are at the public safety building and April 22nd is here and I can tell you who's in those groups if you want.

Do you want the same person for each of the Well, it's up to you. We we did do the same the last ones we've had the same select board member. So, for instance, John could be I think it's probably the easiest to track Yeah, we'll just assign each person to each grouping. Yeah. So, um, who wants to do April and I'll send you an invitation to the meeting. So, I can do April. You want to do April? I'll do April. Um, August. I'll take August

and Nove. So, November and December are the same. Um, there's no two in November, but because of Thanksgiving, it bumps it up to December 2nd. Um, one other thing that came up and I think I'm going to do this next year is we'll cut this back to twice a year instead of quarterly because we've got such a really good list started right now. Um, we do have a lot of meetings that we do. So, it was recommend it was recommended to cut it back. I'd like to do these because they're all set up and ready to go. Yeah. But why? So, okay. So, now if I'm them, right? Like would it not make more sense to do that now? It was recommended in a department head evaluation, not in a quarterly session. Okay. Sorry, I should have clarified that.

Okay. Um, and because these I've rotated them and gotten everybody through this year to be with a different department all through the rest of the year. Okay. All right. Got it. All good. So, it's November 4th, November 18th, and December 2nd. Um, the first two at the public safety building and then the last one's at the water and sewer department. Put me down, Scott. Yeah, good. I think it'd be good to get Scott in front of Yep. people. Yep. Okay. Appointments. Budget committee.

I'll do budget. Paul will joke. Guess I can warm this up a little. What night? What night those? Tuesday or Wednesday? They haven't. So that they're meeting in April to decide that for sure. What do we think? I'm hoping they move. You think so? I was going to say I think they're going to be the same, aren't they? I thought they were going to be the same, but I was planning to bring it up at the organizational meeting to see what the people wanted to do. What night have they been on? Tuesday. Tuesdays. And like because of the zoning board, we we can bump

zoning board like we bump them for the public hearing, but it's hard to bump them for all their any other meetings. So why do we have to bump anybody anywhere? Space this space. We have the public safety building. Yeah. But we have staff that has to be at both meetings sometimes. So I can't it makes it really hard to have them at the same time. Okay. That that's a different challenge to be solved. But if it's literally a space thing, we should make sure we use the space that they Yes. Yes. The budget committee is the other and he records the select board where Kade comes and we get Yeah. broadcast. So we always meet here. I don't know how you can you live stream from another building. Um I need all this stuff and Wi-Fi.

Yeah. So that makes it a challenge. But it could it happen? Yes. But it makes it a challenge. And I don't want to make Kate's life miserable. I do that enough. I would be willing to meet back up to be ultimate on that. So going back, Mondays was the only I mentioned to Paul, doesn't mean they're switching, but I said Mondays is the one that has the most less conflict. Yeah, bad language has the less conflict out of all of the nights of the week. And that and they used to be on Mondays. So they did before they switched. They used say used to, but I've been on the budget committee for 5 years. It's always confusing. I was on four school years ago.

It was How many years was it on Mondays? Cuz we used to come on all the years I was on. Yeah. Back when I were Okay. Back when I was bored. More scoring than seven years ago. Paul, I don't have an issue with Monday. We'll talk about it on either the 21st or the 28th. If they don't change, it's fine. I just said to Paul, that's the only other day that would be better. Yeah, you you did tell me if we changed and we picked Wednesday, Thursday, or especially Friday, um Oh, yeah. somebody would somebody would be punished. I said, "If you pick Friday, I'm never coming to your meetings again." And I said, "If the rest of the committee picks Friday, I'm resigning." All right. Um historic district.

I'll do that. I've done it in the past. Who wants to be the alternate? Oh, so just so you know what the alter alternate duties are is if Don can't make a meeting then you go then you can go in and this one they only meet uh quarterly. Yeah, they're required four times a year. Four times a year unless something comes up. Yeah, I I'll I can be the alternate for I haven't done anything with historic anyways. They're pretty quick. Well, that's exactly that's exactly what's going to happen. And they're going to need membership. So, we're going to try and boost some more. We're trying to get people to join. So, all right. Planning board.

Sign me up. I'll Yeah. So, only thing I just If you shoot me an email, um you have to resign as a regular planning board member so that we can have them decide point hopefully one of the alternates out. Yeah. And then you'll become the the select board representative instead. Okay. I will send you I'm sorry my wasn't paying attention. Did you name an alternate for the budget? Yeah, Sean Sean. Yeah, which is why we started talking about I'll do the alternate for lightning board. Um I put economic opportunities because we are trying to get

Yeah, we got that going again. So I I definitely have that one with that right because I I do All right. An alternate. I can take that if Yeah, it's good. Yeah. On a rare opportunity. Rare chance. Yep. And um I just left any other but so I think the any others needs to fall into and I think it's twice a year quarterly but this is the all committee stuff. I think we need to I think we have an opportunity to kind of send that in a different direction. started to talk about that. Yeah, we have to revamp it.

But I I think I think it's our opportunity to try to start to use it the way I think we're trying to use it, which is to bring everybody together. So, all right. So, do you want to be the primary? Yeah. You volunteering then? Yep. No, no. I'm just saying I'm trying to go. Okay. That's why I look at that different. Okay. They're usually Mondays when we do actually meet. That way we can kind of get that on the board. That's going to be twice a year just to try to use it as a communications vehicle and not let it get sideways. Okay.

I have scheduled the rest of the year out, so I just want to make sure you're good with these. We haven't put these out to the to the departments yet, but um June 19th is employee barbecue mandatory training. Um so that would be it is a Friday. Um we took into consideration a reason we did it on the Friday is we took into consideration that we were always closing the transfer station and they were bearing the brunt of that. So we moved it Thursdays aren't a good idea. So we moved it to a Friday. Are you okay with that?

Yeah, I'll I'll be there. Yep. And then as we get closer, we'll ask you to assign new jobs for those who's who are going. Um September 18th, um we talked last year about moving volunteer appreciation off of August. Um people are on vacation. It's too much on top of everything else. So I want to move it to the historic town hall also. And so September 18th was and it is also a Friday. So not during old home day. Not during old home day. It was too much. Yeah, that's a that's a good one for sure. Okay. Um December 11th is just the lunchon that I cook for usually. Um it's just a twohour lunchon usually. Yep.

And I put it earlier because it did you have a question? Yeah. No, I was September 18th. You said that's Friday. Yeah. Okay. Y there's a chance I may not be available. Okay. We do that usually from 5 to 7 weeks. Okay. Um, and then do we want to continue the holiday party in January? I picked the same dates, January 22nd and January 29th. Is are you okay with those? Yeah, I I I do. It's a nice It's a nice thank you to everyone for all the work they do throughout the year.

And just so you know, um, is at the homestead. That's a big lunchon everybody comes to. Um, we do award we do some type of award in June and we do some type of award in in January. Um, and we've kind of defined what they are based off of. So, and they they work with us tremendously on Yeah. pricing and it works.

Um, okay. To be determined goal setting session. We haven't had one for three years, but we also have an accomplished event. and under your in your folders if you want to look at the goal setting that we did this last time. Um it's under number E6E. So the last time we did it was May 25th of 2023. And I think out of this we've only accomplished one thing off the goal. Yeah. I don't know that we have to go through an official or do you want one like this or just I think we I think as back on task

probably at the next meeting we should just discuss as an item you know what we want to accomplish over the year. Okay. It's going to have to wait on the next meeting. I'm keeping it to myself. All right. Let's make let's not make chair decisions. Yeah. I was going to say All right. You want to keep control of this meeting or what? We'll talk about that next meeting. Um, budget process time frame. I kind of want to get on your radar to thinking about it. You know, maybe we don't talk about it. I'd like to have a month or two when we don't have to try to figure out what the budget's going to be.

Well, that it would be nice if we knew everything was set and we didn't have to worry about it. I'd like to be able to give them deadlines so I can I didn't come prepared, but I can look at what we did and do you want to do a one day session like we did last time or do you want to break it up over four weeks? That was grueling. But yeah, let's not make that decision tonight. All right, we'll hold that for another one. Um sticker your the other thing that was on your list was a sticker check event at the transfer station. Yep. Yep. Do you want to set some set a roughly a date? Yeah. Um, Memorial Day weekend. You don't want to do that. I'm kidding. I know. I'll be around.

You want to do it when it's warmer, probably? Yeah. Yeah. Early May, like May somewhere first weekend of May. So, shouldn't every day be a sticker check day thing day? Yeah, but we do the board you. Sorry. Yeah. No, it's it's it's good it's good to fly the colors every now and then so that people see that you know everything's being checked up on. The guys do a good job, but on a busy week, especially on a weekend, it gets it gets real. It's it's actually good too for them to see that it's not sticker Nazis at the transfer station. It's the select book coming out and talking to you about it.

And it's a good opportunity for people to talk to you. Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah. I think I think sometime, so like the 2nd or 9th of of May. So Chuck may not be there. Are you okay with that? Yeah. But all the more for us to be there. Exactly. Yeah. I should have he's got to something he's got to go out for for a period of time. So I mean, at least better than picking April 1st. Yeah. You know, so May or May? You can do May 16th. We're going to do a Saturday. Yeah. Yeah. It's my birthday. I can't remember what I'm doing. Oh, we can't do that cuz it'll be a huge

party huge party at your house. Yeah. Yeah. Let's Let's look at the nine. All right. Anything else that you can think of Oh, on this first list? Um, no. I think it's I I think it is a good idea to go over goals. Um it doesn't have to be as as uh detailed as a whole as a whole uh all day setting thing, right? Excuse me. Um but I definitely want to pick two or three things that we need to work on this year and and

just make a concerted effort to do a little bit of work on it as we go. um have some thoughts we can talk about. But yeah, I think last year I mean that was one of the things that was slowing us down at the for the all committee stuff, right? So I think doing that again and then bringing that straight to that venue will just help everybody. Yeah. All right. All right. Um under Why are you calling? Under number 6B, that's your meeting schedule. The only question I had on it is July 2nd. Do you still wish to meet that week on July 2nd or it's the Thursday of the 4th?

Yeah. Um, what would we do? Having fireworks. I just got to say. Yeah. So, we did this past year. We did cancel. I think it was pretty much the similar date if I because I think this year matches last year. I'd say we keep it on the schedule for now and we'll see where we are. Okay. Like what's the end of May? If I know one of these dates doesn't work for me, should I just let you know now or kind of uh when you when you know Yeah. Um and sometimes it comes up, you know, you just can't make a meeting. That's it's fine. Um you just text me. Yeah.

Well, in the past people have text Rob, but it's up to you. Yep. I either way. Um, but Christine needs to know, so it's And I send you and I should send um you an invite. Now, I didn't send you for this because we weren't ready yet, but um you'll get invites for the rest of the year. And you can actually select which one and decline it to that way if you want. Okay. Yeah. um under 60. Don't don't not live your life. Uh don't look at me when you said that. So I was feeling a little guilty about that. Yeah. Yeah. The rest of the rest of it works pretty good.

Listen, I think I had a almost perfectly attended. Awards are coming up, right?

And you take one and pass it. I just want to update just make sure there's no changes to your contact information. So, if you could take one and pass it around and fill that out, that would be great. And then the only other thing is under 60 um there are two local officials workshops coming up. Um one in um April 22nd and one May 13. Um I don't know if anybody has any interest in going. um local officials workshops, they talk um they talk to you about different things the select board's responsible for or other things that may not be totally under the select board, but

I certainly think it's a not saying you have to Scott, but I think it's certainly recommended and I can there's so much there's so much to pick up and you'll it's not going to it's not going to have everything there for you. It's going to be a lot. You're going to learn along the way. But yeah. Yeah. Are they both the same? Um, one is April 22nd and that one is a hybrid. It can be virtual or in person. And then but I can't register for it until Oh, I can register. It might be booked. I'll have to check. Um, and then the other one is May 13th and that one is just in person. The same content.

Yes. Yeah. They hold two because they live when the in person they don't have as much room to have a lot of people. So, but I haven't I can set you up with an NHMA login, but I can also it's really honestly I've done a few things there now and it's like I found it incredibly helpful just to kind of when you listen to some of the other folks from a town perspective, things they've run into, you start asking a question, you all, it's pretty interesting just sort of how it'll it'll unravel. Let's see if I can get into the the May session, May 13th. I usually do.

It's pretty easy to get you to like down. So May 13. Okay, I will do that and then I'll make sure I set you up and count. Um so yes, I do two all the first Thursdays is one invite and this third Thursday is the second because that's the only way I can do it. Yeah. Yeah. But yes, I will do that. Oh, they're on repeat. Yeah. Yeah. But then you also send out the attachments. That's just an No, I don't do the attachments anymore because you're in SharePoint. All right. All right. But but now that I have hopefully your SharePoint will be loaded much earlier.

I think you got to put your name on here. Selected. Yeah. Oh, sorry. I'm new to this. It says name right there. But there's no line. There's no mine. I was confused. Oh, sorry. I put me I was actually I was confused by myself. So I can see that. What? Which is ironic considering what I wrote on the bottom as a joke for her. All right. Election and town meeting close out.

All right. So, under number seven, I just drew something up um to just to close it out because we've got two more elections this year and I um wanted to discuss those as well. But um under the first thing I wanted to touch base on town report um so the town report timing got thrown off a little bit by the dedication. We didn't want to give it out. We should have given it out but um so my recommendation is for next year is to do it without the town report and then we can do yeah we can we can do the dedication of the upcoming town report and then we don't have to worry about when the report is coming and when it's not we'll just do it. So

we get complaints on that one. Yeah. Well, it was it and it was late. It was late. It was late. It was three days late. So tech Well, Tuesday, Tuesday it was supposed to be available to the public. So Thursday it was available to the public. Yeah. I'll act surprised when you The point is it makes everything more difficult even though it's just time. Yeah. Yeah. You you two can discuss that. Yeah. I'm gonna like this. Okay.

All right. Sorry. So that so that so March 10th elections um I did reach out to the police department, the highway department supervisors, the town clerk. Um I and the school district actually reached out to me to see how we how we it went and I told them I'd let them know after tonight. Um so the setup I felt went smoothly. Um so did Victor. The dismantle I thought went smoothly. The only issue is um because of the dance, we asked them not to return the booths to the historic town hall until after the dance because they block off the whole side. Yeah.

So, Victor and I had an idea, but I wanted to bring it to you first. The grand piano just sits on the stage and it's covered with crap and I want to pull it off. We want to pull it off the stage and then use the corner of the stage where the grand piano is for storage. Yeah. It still gives you room for the band. But the grand piano is big, heavy, and before we touch it, want to make sure that people are okay. I don't have it. Yeah. What's a plan for it? So, we have three pianos in that building. Yeah. I I think we should talk about the one in the side room whether we keep it or not because the

if we're not tuning them like that doesn't help us because when that building's not being heated right now those the pianos don't respond well the grand piano was tuned and for an event who is the he's a representative at one time he played the piano Bob Ger piano Yes, actually the woman Bonnie that came in previously, she had the tune. So, and they did an event up there, but So, it's right now it's sitting in the corner. No one even probably knows it's there. So, I'd like I'd love to get it off the stage, but it's going to be a feat getting it off the stage. So,

but where are you going to put it once it's off the stage? Um, in the main room. Yep. I guess we'd have to put a sign on it that you know don't I think that's fine. Don't touch. It's covered. It's got a big cover on it so it is protected. We want to use the stage door. So I mean I get it. The building I get I'm just I don't know like Yeah, but the problem we're having now is you're using the side room. You're using that side room and events need that side room. There's no the only other storage and the safe cleaned out here. Yeah. And you know, you can't fit all that stuff in the safe. Some of it you could, but not all of it.

And bringing it here. I I have no issue with it. I mean, I I mean, you're not you're not getting rid of it. You're just moving it off the stage so we can use that. We should consider, you know, a long-term plan for those other pianos. Well, one is the player piano that was refurbished. Yeah, it's really cool if I can figure out how to play it. Okay. Um, but may it So, I think there's a way that we can probably set up some type of screening too for the but this still gives them plenty of room on the stage. We're not going to go over because that piano is pretty big.

So, but there's a lot of stuff being shoved into that corner now. Yep. Okay. Okay. You know, yeah, it makes sense. I It totally does make sense. I just I can help with a lead for company. So, all right. Sounds good. Um food. The only complaint that I've received was the kitchen wasn't available for use to due to the teacher conferences and training that day. Didn't um anybody have any other concerns? The pizza was a fine. People bringing their own lunch. Breakfast was provided. I think I don't know. Yeah, you I had cold cheese pizza. You weren't

um location and access. Um um the only two things I've heard is elderly found the walk from the parking lot to the polls easier but longer and they felt like they were voting in New Hampton, not Bristol. I I heard from a couple of our esteemed citizens that we're not very pleased with the location. Uh but there's no question it's easier to get in and out of. Yeah. Um if the setup was it was so smooth it was. We should if they're like elderly maybe we should approach the school and ask them like for elderly parking along the bus drop off line.

Yeah. You can't go in that door though. There your door is on the other side that you have to go in. That's the only problem. Well, if they pull up where the bus drop off is, it's right by the statue, the the sculpture. So, yeah, that's true. They could Can I ask how we how we landed on the high school and not the middle school? Well, the middle school, the handicapped access is the front of the building. There's no other handicap access. There's a ramp in the Well, you got to walk up the dirt. Yeah. Yeah. So, the back of stairs, the elevator is way over on this side. So, you'd get off the elevator and still have to walk to the gym. Yeah. Unless they went right into the gym directly that Well, that's an uphill up. Yeah, but it's right. But it's not that bad there. But

with the Yeah, I was going to say I thought there were at the gym. There is. And there's a ramp, but I don't But you got to go up a hill to get to it. And then and then there's Yeah. So, and then there's the parking. If they're having teachers there, but if all the teachers are at the high school, they're not the middle school teachers go there in service. They might have been. Yeah, they were. I saw a middle school teacher there at some point. I don't know what the next one is going to be, but All right. So, what do we have next for We have um state primary primary, right? But so that's going to be that we can't go to the school for September,

right? We thought that since that's likely to be a pretty low turnout that we could do it here. We did think that, but what Cheryl's informed me is that you have to have even though it's a low turnout because it's state, you have a specific number of booths and we can't we aren't going to build they have to be so many feet apart and we aren't going to be able to fit them in. But that's in September, right? Yeah. So, we can do that at at the historic town hall. Yeah. Okay. Let's do that. A couple people had asked about, you know, doing a poll to see whether people liked it better there. Is there any way we could put a Well, we don't have an option for that one, but we don't have

You mean for November? November is going to be No, just to to put a to take a survey on uh put a survey up on the website or something to see what people thought. Yeah. I don't know how hard that would be. It's not hard. I did it. You did it on Facebook. Yeah. Yeah. four. What was that? Four. That was Oh, for the uh 85 lake. Yeah. All right.

The other piece that we did get the feedback that day was there was uh one person that talked about the need to um have a sleeve or something so they can feed their So maybe next time we just have some uh a sleeve to put your votes in for when you put it in the machine. People can't see. So, so like that can't be honestly that expensive. Just we have some manola folders. Yeah. Just I mean if we literally just have some manila folders and go, you know, a legal mana folder will then hold that sheet and you can go. Yeah. But you still got to take it out and put it in the machine. People standing around. Yeah. Something's there. People do comment about

I can Cheryl can probably ask what other towns do though. Yeah. Let's get that question out there. Yeah. Um that way because that's simple and like I said worst case it's a folder and you stand in there and you're right Sean you do get that mean yeah one way or another you'll feed it in the machine so um the next part was signage um there were a couple of complaints about that they um one was lack of signage on 104 um and this particular person recommended that we use um that we put something up on the marquee it depends on the snow because they don't use the marquee at the school at all in the in the winter. So, if we can get to it or not. I call the marquee their sign board.

And then the other thing was that we could probably put the PD um Yeah. sign up either here or downtown telling people weeks ahead and then put it up at the school the day of. The day of. Yep. Um the second person felt that we may have violated some rules by not advertising it well enough. Um, I did look into that and we did not. Everything was posted as it was supposed to. We posted the polling places. We posted here. We had orange signs up at three different locations focused on just March 10th. Um, and then we did also find out that the elementary school had it on their sign board.

Yeah. Um, and then we also had it online. So, um, but I do agree we probably could do better out there. Yeah. So, I heard a lot of feedback like that there wasn't any sign here telling them to go there. The sign was right there. Right. But Right. But it wasn't it wasn't Yeah. wasn't visible from the street. Yeah. I can't put it I didn't put it out on the street because of snow banks. But maybe we could temporarily hang something on the the building sign. Yep. Off the side of the just for that day. Yeah.

Sign here. Okay. Um, zoning amendment. Oh, so for ele for elections or we're still on elections. Never mind. Zoning a women's voters guide. Were there any I thought she did a wonderful job. I don't think she should do anything different. Did you have any comments? I think it was well done. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Does a good job. Um, any other logistics on elections? Not town meeting elections. You tell us. I was I was just fine. The only thing was uh Rama suggested the layout within the gym. That that's a Cheryl and Victor.

Okay. Decision, but that was the only feedback I had. Oh, so layout the layout of the tables and the um clerks. Okay. I can talk to Cheryl and and flow that was, you know, the new things that we bought or those are so much easier. Yeah. Instead of the chain. Yep. Yeah.

So, um we did have we we we had to get them because we didn't have enough chain anyway. But, um okay, next steps. Elections for September can't be at the school. So, historic town hall, we'll start advertising that now. Um, and then elections for November right now are scheduled for the high school, but um, I'll do the survey, but I'll leave it there for now. Um, we don't have to advertise yet on November, but I was surprised that people sort of complained about the high school. I thought everybody was wanting to do it there. Yeah. Yeah. That was a surprise I had.

I mean, so it was easier on you because you didn't have to get anybody for the shuttle. Correct. We chose not to do the shuttle. Yeah. But um so we didn't have to do the shuttle and it was easier cuz I didn't have to do anything. So I just had I did have to do things ahead of time. But but and and it was all out there. we didn't have to go park somewhere else because we we close off parking to employees and we have to park somewhere else. Um we won't if November is busy. This is not substant good enough parking if if we chose historic town hall. It it really wasn't last time. So, right. Um although we do have a new

Yeah, we do have a new parking lot. Well, we'll all be there. Yeah, all your staff. Unless you give us a day off. No kidding. We have the next day off in November because it's Veterans Day. All right. Um so town meeting uh the only setup issues we had were logistics with for Cade um with and the um it took him until Friday late Friday to resolve. But the good news is he doesn't have to run the slideshow anymore. Yeah. Yeah. And that went well. Did um good job Kade by the way getting that all Yes. We should request that they just create an SSID specific for us.

We we told them what we needed. But so that's something we can go talk to them about much earlier next year because if everybody got on now, we didn't really have this exact problem, but if everybody decided to join the Wi-Fi, it could have impacted how it functioned because it's all the same public Wi-Fi. Whereas if there's a dedicated SSID specific for town and they can go creative with town elections and then they can disable it like there's there's specific ways for them to be able to handle that. We can talk to them. Um location and access. I don't think there was any issues. This is our regular location. Although we

probably could have put signage out for the entrance because it people may have gotten confused where the entrance voting Tuesday was here but you come over here. Okay. So, signage and advertising, we didn't add much signage because my focus was on voting to make sure they knew, but um so I mean, we've been doing it out there for 15 years. Y yeah. Um voters's guide for the Warren articles. Um only thing I would put for me was to make sure it's out earlier next year. And there any other comments on it? No. Again, I think they were very well done and explained it. There's very lot also thank you to whoever put the select I'm assuming that was you the select what packets together

it was much easier to do because the voters's guide I just took that and put your votes in and stuff so yeah they put actually I put the document they put famous for me so but okay good so those were good so docs um we put together packets so um slideshow Any comments, concerns? I I think that it was good fine. You you guys don't get to see the first one as much because it's behind you, right? So, but

I just didn't like it. Doesn't even matter, but like there's a shadow of the lights up in the top. The way to fix that, which I went to the school board meeting on Monday and they were on the stage, so the stage has its own lights. So you guys could be under the lights and then the house lights could be dimmed. But then if you're on the stage, the projector screen, you know, there's no no wind here really cuz you can't lower that screen. Yeah. We couldn't go on the stage because they have um so those house lights have three settings and that's half

so it's either fully on, halfway on or off. And that the town meeting was at halfway. Um, so fully on UV, the screen would be totally Oh, no. I'm thinking this the uh the projector image itself was blocked by the lighting the stage lighting, right? Like kind of like I don't think that could be moved up. Yeah. Cuz I don't know if that lighting I don't think it was being used, right? So, I mean, if there was no reason to have the house lights on, then you could turn kill and have the projector. Yeah. The projector would still be obstructed by the lights. Some of the lights hanging.

Well, we need the house lights on cuz people are going to be moving around going to the mic and we won't want them. I mean, we can ask the stage lights can be raised slid, you know, we're not using them, but All right. It's not a huge deal. So, the uh Have you posted the link on Facebook for the meeting? We usually we follow up by sharing that out. something for my the town meeting video. Yeah. Yeah. Um I haven't put it on Facebook, but it's on the website. Okay. I can share it. I think it's good. I put the stream link ahead of the meeting. So, yeah, it's there. I think it would be also nice and appropriate, too, to just if you could cut out the section of the dedication to Ned. I I did. I'll show you.

Oh, you did? Okay. Well, he's going to in the buzz now. Um, okay. But so on the election, I'm going to change the title because well, this will be with elections, but I did cut it out and put thank you to thank you and that Ned was honored as he steps away from moderating a wonderful speech. A gift card and flowers were shared with Ned, who received a standing ovation at the end of the meeting. I did retype your speech and that's here um attached. Whoops. And then I took the picture from the slideshow. Yep. Yeah. And then I did post the results of the meeting here articles um as well. So your speech was really good, Sean. It really was.

All right. But I didn't share it on Facebook. Um but he's going to put it on the in the buzz. So I thought that would be good. Yeah. I don't I think that's it for Halloween. All right. Um What about the the result? You talk about the results of the vote, right? Like Yep. Um Oh, yeah. I do have questions about articles. So, there was there was one zoning article, both

the one above uh anything that needs a permit that was built before 1978. So my question was since now that is that presents a pretty interesting distinction on housing and when somebody pulls a permit

do we want the fee to be the same as every other permit and the reason why I asked that question is I don't believe my own personal opinion I don't believe we intend to create a building department I don't believe we intend to have a building inspector And if we're if we're having a permit because we're trying to track something from a state perspective based on lead paint or something specific, but we're not really providing a service and what are we charging a permit fee for in that regard, right? Whereas the other pieces, the way it got cleaned up, it was specific about a cost, specific about that one now is written such that if your building was built before 1978, you pull permit regardless. So if we if we don't if we're not doing something that's costing us something to administer and go deal with that thing, then I think I don't know that we should have a fee for it. Even though we, you know, now we we clearly have to have a permit, but I don't know that we should have a fee if there's not if we're not conducting a service for

I talked to Joanne and Joanne is doing research on what exactly was is being required and whose authority is it because I believe it's the health officer. It was a requirement of EPA. Um, so she I told her review and um obviously anything that's over the threshold whatever that number is 15,000 15,000 parts

anything over 15 has to get a permit anyway so that shouldn't change. That's correct. But the the threshold from $5 to 15. I said look at it and see what your requirements are for doing a permit. And if you're going to set a fee you have to come back to the board and we have to talk to the board about it. So, she's we're planning she's coming April 2nd to talk to short-term rentals. So, she should be here to also um talk to you about any kind of fee if that's what it's going to be um because the board can approve the fees. So, um, but while we're on articles still, since we're on town meeting, um, article 12 of social districts, I want to get your direct I know it failed, but the question would be, are we doing anything at this point? Are we going to spend the next year and look at the district, the boundaries, and write the rules and regulations, or do we just let this go? At this point,

I'm as far as I'm concerned, I think we should let it go. People did not I mean, even the people who would benefit did not show up to support it, right? I don't I don't want to spend a ton of time on it and ask why are you bringing this again? Yeah. I mean, we have plenty to do. You know, be a different question next year if we basically said if we refined potentially our thought process to it. Hey, we specifically want to hear. We communicate differently and we asked the question, do you want to entertain it? If if they're saying, which is that was the vote, no, we don't want to spend time on it. I don't I think it was pretty I think the It was close, but the result of the vote is

is the result of the vote. They don't want to spend time on that. Yeah. I I think part of the no vote, you know, I I don't know what the percentage, but let's just say half the no vote was people that don't want it. Yeah. And the other half was people that wanted to know that they wanted to vote on the details obviously the proposed amendment. So I I would say once we get the economic development committee, whatever we're calling that now, um put it in their hands to to see about maybe putting details together and and see see whether it's feasible or not and then possibly present whatever they come up with at the next town meeting. I mean, the only

because I think if we presented it saying, "Okay, here's where it's going to be. here's the details of it. It probably would have passed in that in that respect. But I don't see this board having time to do all that work, right? But since we're going to have a committee that's basically that's their charge to do stuff like that. Well, yeah. I mean, I guess the only thing at least put it on their list to to see if they want to do it, if they think it's worthwhile. Yeah. My only caution there is my advice to them would be okay, it's like a meeting's worth of discussion because honestly I think to do that well to be able to answer the questions of the gentleman that got up and said hey you guys should have done all of these things in order to do those pieces well there is literally between the businesses who we had to talk to right

there's a dozen people that got to be it's a lot of effort and that's what I'm saying just put they can put it on their list and and put it as a priority figure out what that priority is There's probably other things they should work on. Yeah. But that's where I would propose it to to be sent to. Um, cool.

With regard to two other things on the articles, um, the MS232 whatever is what you actually voted at town meeting. I'm waiting for guidance on how to handle the ambulance revolving fund. Um we're receiving guidance on the 60,000 that it's supposed to be in the budget um and then offset by revenues. That's not how they've done it in the since before way before me. So I'm trying to determine about the 500. Now what do we do now? This has changed so I can make sure that MS232 is correct. Um the second part of that is I also have an email in to the town's attorney on the disabled article um and how we handle that one. Um uh there when I read through the statute there um there may be some complication from the statute from what what was passed versus the statute but I just have to double check with the DRA and the attorney on that one. that we just didn't word it correctly or

um there are no age brackets in the statute on the disabled. It is 65 or older, but when the attorney responded from the review, the response said um for consistency, he thought it was fine. DRA didn't question it either. So now I've got to just go back and just make sure that it is okay to do it that way or not. And if it's not okay, what do we do at this point? So um so other than that it is it is the age the minimum age is required. The income and assets are required. Um it's just the three levels of age um aren't in there. So, but other than that, um, so the MS232, um, may come to you in an off week. Um, if I have to check, I think it's 20 days after town after your vote that you're supposed to have these things in. So, it may have to come to you in an off week and then have you ratify it at your April meeting. But

once we clarify, other than that, you let us know, we'll come in and sign. Yep. All right. All right. You good on elections? Yep. I think you are. TA report.

Um the TA info only. Um you may there are pictures in there. you might be interested in looking at. Um, and then the report is it's a word document. I didn't get to change convert it over, but if you want to go ahead and take a look at that, see if you have any questions. Yeah.

First first picture I was like that's not so bad. Yep. All right. All right, let's uh look at discussion items. that out.

Where'd you see the pictures were? Um, if you go in the info only folder. Yeah. And then info one folder inside there with pictures in it. Folder.

Whoops. Where are your folders? Right. Go back up to your info folder right there. And then that info number one was the pictures. Okay. Um uh team report discussion. We did get a nice comment from the about the fire department um employee null mandon. He's a captain. Um it came in through for our um finance office. But it says um I hi Ben. I just got a call from a woman who was transported from Raget to Franklin today. She called to say how wonderful Null was, how he was the nicest guy she ever met, calmed her right down, etc. She hoped he we could pass this message on. So

great. We thought it was a nice comment. Nice. Um, under number two, there is a letter in there. The equalization ratio for 2025 has been set. Um, it's 99.7%. So, I hope so. I know. We just did the reval, so we're supposed to be as close as possible to 100. Um, there is an information uh form information. There's a document in there that tells you the difference between median and weighted meaning ratios. We use median for the assessing purposes. So that's why we refer to it so much.

Um, number three. So somehow I missed the quarter one warrant for water and sewer for their bills. So if you could um approve it and backdate it. Um Scott Seurn won't be able to vote on this. Yeah.

But if you could approve it and backdate the approval to January 2nd. This is the water and sewer warrant. So, it's water $142,59 and then sewer is $149,495.85. So, these are the bills that get sent out. These are the quarterly warrants that we do. They are going to be coming normal, but I missed this one myself. So, but so this is moving the money from where to where? No, this is the warrant that actually says you can actually send the bill. send the bill. So, we've done it obviously, but Oh, we've done it, but we haven't. We missed voting on it. We didn't do the voting. Okay, got it.

So, normally you'll get these. So, the way we're going to start doing them um also, so we're not delaying anything is if it's an off week, you'll get this to do a vote on it in an off week like you are going to get payroll and pay and payments and then you'll ratify the vote at the next meeting. So, all right. So, then you want us to make a motion to I'll do this. Oh, yeah. Oh, you got the point. But is it for just quarter one? No, I don't have that. Just quarter one. Just quarter one. Right.

Make a motion to approve the Bristol water and sewer warrant. Quarter 1 uh warrant dated January 2nd, 2026. And the amount for water being 142,59 and sewer for 149,49585. Second effective effect of one. I said that. Oh, you did. Sorry. I didn't hear. Okay. And he said one point one to two points. We have a motion from selectman Sanrin and a second from John. Yep. Any discussion?

No. Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. The abstensions. Yes. One abstension 401.

Thank you. Um under number four, we had talked about this at the last meeting. There have been a concern. It's getting to the end of the season, but I thought it would be good to close it out. Um, a concern was raised about the snowmobiles being on the bike path. I did talk to the gentleman and it was in the section um between the lake and where they're allowed village where they're allowed. But what happened was the snowmoer cursed this person out saying, "You're not supposed to be on this snowmobile." Yeah. and I said, "No, it's supposed to be shared path." So, it's a multi-use me. We need to get that word out to Joel Bean.

I'm going to reach out to them, but I didn't know if we wanted to require them to say something about multi-use. Yeah, they're going to have to put a sign signs up. Use caution. Y Okay, that's almost any snowmobile trail. Yeah, I know. You can still be on the trail. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. It doesn't matter where it is. I I don't know why. Maybe we don't need the signs, but maybe we just happen to put something out to their groups. We don't know if this person was part of their group or not, but I mean, people are always on the trails. They're snowshoeing. They're doing something. So, yeah. I

But I told him I would let you know and that that that it was not true, that it was shared path, so he was allowed to still be on it. So, and he was fine. Um, number five, next Monday, the 23rd, the school board, the school has invited us to attend the school board meeting. Um, and it actually came from the facilities director because they're going to be discussing the structural integrity of one of their buildings. Um, I emailed Ben to try to send someone from the fire department if possible, but I didn't know if any of the

Listen, I'm kind of interested in it, but I'm wondering what they like. I'm glad they invited us, but what are they expecting us to do? Because any person can go there. Uh, it's in our town. When you say invite us, do you mean the board? You mean the facilities director invited um he didn't clarify who. So, I picked Ben, the fire department, but I didn't know if the board would be interested in attending. Um, and then if the fire department can't, I would plan to go just because it is a building in our town. Um and it is um a building that's up for if they do close it, that's going to it's going to be ours. Yeah. So

um and if there is a structural issue, the fire department really should be there if they can. I'm not sure if they I think they're involved in those inspections, but if they're not, they really need if it's a structural issue, we probably shouldn't have kids in that part of the building. So I I'll plan on meeting them. Okay. So it's at 6:30 on the 23rd. 23rd. It's Monday, right? Um, it's Monday night. Jeez, please. This next one is just a I'm just catching up.

Get your uh thinking hats caps on. Um, if you're if you have any ideas for Grand Marshall, the community events committee um is this year's parade is the 250th anniversary. Um, so I think that's all what they their theme is the 250th anniversary. Um, so they wanted to know if you had any ideas for a grand marshall thoughts for someone. Um, Ned has been one already. Okay. That's where I was going. Ned and his wife were grand marshall five years ago. Few years ago. Okay.

Um, because that we did talk about that um but so we'll um think about it. You don't have to make a decision. And then I think the last thing I wanted to announce was um a welcome to the team. our new human resource officer and welfare officer. Um, Tila Merwin started. She joined us this week. Um, poor girl has been on training and um, we're going to it's been a lot of training videos this week because it's been busy. Um, but we'll begin to start transitioning work um to her. Was she there the other day when I stopped in? Yeah.

I didn't even think of it at the time. I was I was buzzing. Well, I know. And then the phone call, too. So, um, right now that's the end of my report, but I reserve the right to follow up. All right. Very good. Let's see. Selectment items. Scott, I don't think I have anything else. All right. John

um had another conversation with Bruce this afternoon about really trying to get the economic opportunity committee going. I think you know we gave them some we on our agenda list. We'll go over it some more but like uh piece about housing. It is really going to require us to get some conversations going at the state level. So, that's uh more to come on that, but but we're trying to draft a note and I'll send it to you guys all first before I send it out because I want to send it out from me to Governor AOT's office. I want to have some larger discussions around what they're trying to do at the state level. Um, and I'm going to obviously send it from me, but you know, me and the capacity of talking from Bristol, right? So, you know, anyways, Scott,

it just reminds me one question I had uh probably the rules about us talking to each other about things that only is a problem if we make a decision. Is that correct? That flowchart of is it a meeting or not? Right. and I'll go through the only yeses come from if you made a decision about something. So if there's three of you, it could be considered a quorum. Whether you're talking about things or not, you have to be careful about that. Three is a quorum. Unless you're like a public, but if the three don't make a decision, you did not do something that is

correct. I think that's correct. perception can sometimes be coming into it though. Um and then the only thing you have to be careful about is discussions among you coming in with a predetermined opinion about something. Right. And be careful on the email and reply. Yeah. Yeah. Don't reply. There's certain things that you can do over email and a lot more that you can't. Yeah. So if I send out something I um usually I ask reply only to me. Um if I forget to put that in that's usually what what I ask. Okay. Ju just remember Schoolhouse Rock. Three is a magic number. Yeah. All right. Thanks, Don. Just congratulations to Scott.

Yes. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you. I appreciate everything for real. I appreciate you've all been welcoming and encouraging and supportive and I'm looking forward. You're great. Good review. That is a couple items. Um, do we have an update on Heming Path? No. Uh, in while you're looking for that, we had a great turnout at the snowshoe. At the snowshoe. Yes. Well over 30 people, close to 40 at the beginning. I think about 30 made the trek all the way and then about 12 of us made the trek back. Uh, we we left the others there. Yeah, they got a ride back.

Yeah. Uh, but it was great. And then you had it was good somebody count. So they met the Pemmy Pad met last week. They met last week and they talked about it was good someone actually counted that people got off the trail. Yeah. And and Paul Paul made the sweep at the end to make sure everyone no one got left behind. So appreciate appreciate your work there, too. I think it was great because it showed not only an interest in the project um but you had folks there who were part-time residents. You had folks there who weren't even from Bristol or own property in Bristol who

who who were excited about the project. Um I think it bodess well for when we go out looking for fundraising and I think it's a good sign of the interest in in the project. They um at the meeting they did talk and correct me if I say something wrong Paul because you were at the meeting. Um they did talk about um what where to go from here fundraising. Um Buzz is concerned about making sure that the challenge partnership is in place before they even start that. Yeah, absolutely. But it sounded like that was close, right?

Yeah. Yeah. So, I just got an um we just got an email today actually from Tia with a um most recent revision from the Army Corps. I haven't even opened it yet on the partnership. So, it did come in today. Don't don't don't squash my eye. No, it came in today. It's good news. So, okay. All right. Um and she says, "I hope this addresses all the remaining concerns." So, it sounds good. I just haven't looked at it. So,

uh I had a I've been having conversations with um Harold Not who's a selectman now in Hill. Um I don't know if you all know Hill had quite an upheaval in the last year. They ended up uh they ended up basically losing their whole select board. Yeah. Yeah. And then um

so they have Yeah. Right. Three. Right. So, um, they have all new select board and well, what happened was they were had two and then they appointed one and then the two quit. Uh, and then they appointed another and then those people appointed another and then they all ran for re reelection. Um, but uh, Herold's really keen and interested to talk with us, much like Alexandria, on things that we can work together on. M

um and also in the name of um they have a huge hill to climb in terms of understanding what to do in that role. uh you know he said that he'd been going around asking I said um we would certainly entertain them uh to a listening session or question session uh whether it's a work a work uh session or you know we call a joint meeting and and and part of it was he's like we need to just see how you do a meeting. Oh yeah. I mean they're really starting from from scratch but I think there are some opportunities to

the chairs right here for them. Yep. I think there are some opportunities to uh I I also offered I also offered to go uh if it was helpful and and attend a meeting or two uh with them um to to go over some stuff. Uh they're Tuesdays, first and third Tuesday. I was going to say they could also in the end they could watch the the YouTube lives meetings too.

Yep. I'll I'll uh I'll pass that along. But uh he was really interested in and I you know he wasn't speaking officially but they obviously had some consideration but you know things that you know like Alexandria is doing with card with us with cardboard and you know things that they can um work together on so you don't they don't have to reinvent the wheel. Yeah. Yeah. So I told them we're happy to we've been talking to other talents like that so we're happy to talk with them as well. So, don't be surprised if you get a phone call. Okay. Because that's actually interesting, too, because Ben's been Yeah. talking. Yep. And they've had upheaval in there in that in that same in that same department as well.

Which that reminds me of something when you get done. Yep. Go ahead. Um, do we know what's going on with New Hampton? No, not yet. Okay. cuz that to me like that

that thing just that it absolutely just joged my memory about New Hampton because I think one of the things for us being prudent about managing all of our capital assets in particular, you look at the number of police cruises we have and whatnot. Like one of the things I'm hoping we kind of get to is we start to like figure out the requirements in our replacement cycles is really starting to review, okay, how many calls, how many miles, how many this, how many that, how many are outside of Bristol, Ohio, right? Just so we can be fair to what we need to provide in town. You know, mutual aid is mutual aid in that I know that if we need somebody to come running, we need them to come running. So, and if they need us to come running cuz it's mutual aid, then we need to be on that. But if they don't have a department and we're providing those services because the state is calling us cuz it's easy, then I think we need to make a couple of calls to the state to go, okay, hey, we or engage in a relationship with New Hampton so that they temporarily reimburse Bristol for those services if that's the position we're in until they get themselves sorted out.

I'm I'm a long way from offering those services. Yeah, I'm not to broadcast that. Um and and certainly Yeah. Um some towns are would be easier to do that to than with than others is all I would say. Yeah. No, no. Million%. All I'm saying is we got we got to make sure it's communicated well understood. This is what we're agreeing to cuz I think mutual aid is something that's necessary and and I never want to see somebody providing emergency services in a position where they can't get some help, right? But right now I don't think that they have something to provide their own services to begin with.

They have two officers right now. Um so they do have two officers right now. They don't have like a lead I don't believe. But um and then what Chris and I talked about previously and I haven't gotten an update yet is that he they we are responding to some mutual aid calls but there's a level we're not going to all the calls. So there's a certain level that that we would respond to on mutual aid calls and that's probably lifethreatening. Um but I can clarify that with Chris. Is it mutual aid because they have somebody else there or is it mutual aid because they don't have like like to me that's either or it could be if they didn't have somebody on duty and it's a life-threatening call to it

and or if there's someone on duty and there needs to be a backup we may go to because somebody on duty and there needs to be a backup I think is the way I understand the mutual aid uh definition that's right like because otherwise otherwise it should fall with the state police right otherwise it's It's a you need somebody to respond, right?

But I also think that we we may back up state police in some instances as well with mutual aid. So if if state police is coming from I don't know, Mer Meredith, that's not that far to come to New Hampton, but if they're coming from somewhere else, they may not they may need the backup person. But I don't know. I'm going to clarify those things. But I but I I guess the other and you guys correct me if I get any of this incorrect, but like we should be able to articulate in our police call system what types of call so we can actually have a so we can have a meaningful conversation because what I don't want to do if we're talking to the state or New Hampton or anybody is to be go well we kind of think it's five,

right? I want to know whether it's five, 15, 18, whatever it whatever it is, we be able to articulate. And it absolutely is not going to be Well, Bristol is on duty. So that there you go. Yeah. No. No. And I think Chris has actually communicated. Yeah. That they are not going to all calls, right? So is that though? Is that out of our purview? Because it's policing. We can't tell the police. I mean, we can we would be the ones entering into in terms of Well, if we went further, but I'm talking we're not telling them how to enforce the law. Yeah.

This is a cost recovery and a fiscal responsibility in my opinion around Bristol has to we have to buy equipment. We have to maintain the equipment. We have to make sure that the cruisers have brakes and all these other things. I mean, the way I look at it, Scott, is uh you know, I'm just bring No. Yeah. No. uh you know, if the chief or the person on duty, our officers on duty, think it's warranted, then I'm not going to pull in front of them and say, "No, you're not going. You're probably not going to New Hampton." Uh but we can certainly set a you know, something, you know, we're not going to unwarranted calls. We're not going to be their backup because they don't want to fund their own position,

right? if they want to talk to us about a contract, that's another matter, but it's got to be it's got to be very preferential to Bristol. Yeah. And we we need to be able to articulate to everybody. Exactly. We've gone to this many calls in New Hampton, not a we feel like it's this. We should be those numbers. We have a really good Yeah. Yeah. That's Yeah. Need to have an internal conversation before we even Absolutely. That's I and like I said, I have some serious concerns. He hasn't been approached again, so there's no conversations about that. It's just the he it's just the mutual aid coverage. Yeah.

That he's talked to him about, but we haven't been approached as far as I know. Again, okay, I think it's time to start looking at regionalization. 100%. It's just we all have our little fftoms and we don't want to we don't want to give give any of that that up. But you're it's the only it's the only way to move forward in a way that is financially responsible. Financially responsible. Yes. Between between how expensive it is for everybody and the towns around us are starting to not have coverage and and it would help us out. Jo, that's I mean we're organized enough that it can be a plus for us.

Right. Right. Plus for them them that they don't have to pay the full freight of a and they're not but the plus for us is it's going to be more than it's going to cost or we're not right. Yeah. Or we wouldn't do it. Yeah. So all right. Uh public discussion. Thanks. Uh I'll just let you know that uh we just received a letter of resignation from one of the budget committee members. So from Joe. Yeah. So, we knew that was coming, but So, we'll we're going to meet in April. We'll accept the resignation formally and then we'll advertise someone to fill that position. So, we'll advertise for that.

Um, and if folks have any ideas, feel free to prod someone to come forward. The only other thing I was going to add, so I' I've been talking I have a friend who lives in Hill who was telling me some of these things. The the one thing that I heard just in addition to what you said with all the select board he said the other concern is that they're I don't think the person has a formal title of town administrator but there the person who does the admin work is also fairly new to the job and doesn't have experience. So they don't have administrative backup according they do have some they have someone doing the work but she doesn't have a lot of experience and a lot of expertise is what I was told. He told me she wrong so it came from a city. Okay.

In New Hampshire. But but yeah, that is a new position as well. Yeah. So, yeah, Scott, I just thought of something just bring to light. Um there's been a lot of contentious comments uh pertaining to Danbury school closing. So, between towns folk or people thinking Briscol doesn't pay their fair share and such. So um there's there's a ton of comments out there on these different community threats and it's not just Danbury, Alexandria and so on. So

So I you know I think the thing to highlight about that is that um there isn't a thing that this board can can do about that other than make comments as individuals in a board. Um, a lot of false information out there being put out there, too. Yeah. So, that's all I can say. I don't want to get There's people need to go and fill the auditorium. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. And come to our town meeting. Y spreadsheets are amazing things. Yeah. All right. Yep. Just as I was automatically coming back to you.

Two things. Two things. I just wanted to let um next meeting be prepared to sign. You'll be signing all the PAFs at the next meeting because they go into effect on April 5th. You can bring them. I can bring all but Scott sever. It might be here by then. It might. So, um and then um do we have short-term rentals? Did you want to do that as a work session? I think I think probably because it's gonna have to spend some time in and then um right to know requests are ridiculous right now. Um it's not just our town, it's all over the state. They're getting um they're getting them. We think a lot of them are AI driven. Yeah. Um I have done 10 this week alone.

Um about what? Everything. Oh, okay. It's not a specific. There's um they want there's one that wants our all the RFPs that we've done from 2020 through 2025. Those are definitely

Yeah. Um so I've gotten a boiler plate I've actually talked um because some of our stuff was starting to answer and I said stop answering them and send them to me because I've gotten a boilerplate language from them um and from the attorney and we're using that and one two people actually just withdrew because we wouldn't send it electronically. So, um I'm I we're requiring in person. Um if you want the data, tell me that you're going to I'll have it available this date. You just have to confirm you're going to be here and you have to pay for copies or thumb drive. So, I'm not So, so far we're up to 10 roughly. We're allowed to not send electronically.

Yes. There's if it doesn't exist electronically like we don't we don't I don't have to go create something. Okay, I got you. I got you. So if it doesn't exist if it started out that way, right? Right. But couldn't they come in and just view the documents without paying anything? Yes, they can. Um but majority of the ones we're getting are from out of state, I think. I mean, I've gotten Is there is there anything in the in the state statute that people can just send it in? We have to respond. Yeah. No matter how it's no matter how it's brought to the doesn't have to be brought in person.

No, no. You can do it. I've done it myself. Yeah. I think that sounds like something that should be changed. Yeah. This one says, "Talk talk your representative to put a bill in next time that if you want if you want a right to know that you have to personally be there and deliver it." Yep. This one is a prop. They want all property tax and subsequently tax deed um property tax leans and deed properties between January 2010 and December 31st, 2025. Real estate.

And then I got I mean and I this one I haven't heard back from yet. Um, this one wants all of our liability insurance, the name of the care insurer, um, for fiscal 26, 25, and 24, and any lawsuit that we've agreed to settle. I don't think I would have to provide that but that part but um and then this one wants all of the RFPs RFIs RFBS what requests for what is what's

must be um so 23 to 25 and then these are the ones that have withdrawn so far and then I have one more um as I have Joanne looking into something before I respond so and then there was someone who wanted a tax lean list which we found out we can release. We just have to make sure it doesn't have certain things on it. Um, and I checked the one that Cheryl was going to release and it's fine. So, we did release that via email, but All right. But they're coming in left and right. All right. Anything else, Kate? Uh, before you guys get too far, I need a new photo. Oh, yeah. Okay. Thank you for reminding me.

I wear my nice shirt. All right. Yeah. There's uh nothing else. Someone want to move to adjourn? Yes, I'll move to adjourn. Second. All those in favor? Thank you.